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| Park Ji-hoon / Photo by Shin Seo-young |
On the 31st, Anyang defeated Changwon LG 84-74 at Anyang Jeonggwanjang Arena in an LG Electronics Pro Basketball regular-season game for the 2025-2026 campaign.
The victory pushed Anyang to 33-18, two games back of league leader LG (35-16).
LG entered the night with a magic number of two to secure the regular-season title. A win would have wrapped it up, but the loss left that goal unfinished.
By stalling LG’s coronation, Anyang also stretched its lead over third-place Seoul SK (31-19) to 1.5 games, putting the club in a favorable spot to hold onto second place and earn a direct berth into the top-four playoff bracket.
Park finished with 19 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds, and he did not commit a turnover.
He was at his sharpest in the fourth quarter. When LG cut the deficit to 68-72 with a late surge, Park answered with consecutive baskets to halt their momentum. After Maree drained a three to make it 76-71, Park and Byun Jun-hyung combined for seven straight points to push the lead to 83-71 and restore a double-digit margin.
Anyang protected that advantage the rest of the way and kept LG from clinching the title.
After the game, Park told reporters, Every game is huge. We didn’t want the visitors celebrating a championship in our building. The guys stayed focused and worked hard. I’m happy we got the win.
He added that no one wants to watch an opponent’s title celebration on their home floor. He said LG players didn’t even exchange greetings when they first came out, so Anyang didn’t return the gesture. I usually go over and say hello, but I didn’t today, he said with a smile, explaining that the team kept repeating, Let’s lock in and shut down their strengths.
Park said communication was constant throughout the contest. On the bench, Jong-gyu Kim, Seong-hyeon Jeon and Young-hyun Kim kept offering nonstop advice. As a player on the court, I appreciated it because it kept me aware of the situation, he said. He also praised his teammates’ interior defense, saying O'Bryant, Washington, Kyung-won Kim and Seung-hee Han did an outstanding job containing the opposing big men, which was crucial to the win.
Anyang didn’t turn the ball over even once through the first three quarters, showing poise. Park credited that to the team’s concentration, saying all the players stayed dialed in and avoided sloppy play, which is why turnovers were so low.
Reflecting on his late-game work alongside Byun, he said, We have scorers like O'Bryant, but in crunch time I think Mun Yu-hyeon, Byun and I have to step up. One of the three — sometimes two — has to make plays. That’s how you protect a lead and close out a game calmly. That’ll be important down the stretch and in the playoffs.
Rookie guard Mun Yu-hyeon, who had been sidelined by injury, returned in this game. Inserted in the second quarter, he finished with 11 points and 2 rebounds and gave the team a timely lift.
Park raved about Mun’s impact. He’s terrific and he’s putting in the work, Park said. He only had two days of team practice after returning, yet delivered that performance and helped on defense. If Yu-hyeon hadn’t played, it would have been a much tougher night for Byun and me.
Jokingly, Park asked whether Mun could be in the Rookie of the Year conversation if Anyang seals second place, then added more earnestly, I hope voters look kindly on him. He’s a true rookie and has contributed a lot this season; that could be meaningful for the award.
Finally, Park said beating the top team like this builds momentum. We got beat badly by Seoul Samsung, but today should give us good energy. Defense has to be our foundation in the playoffs, and we need offensive output like tonight. If our attack keeps clicking, we should be in for even better games ahead.
[Sports Today reporter Shin Seo-young sports@stoo.com]
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